breen

Ott Tanak executed his final day “action plan” to perfection in Belgium to score a third World Rally Championship victory in Hyundai Motorsport colours alongside Martin Jarveoja – and a first at Ypres Rally.

Ott Tanak was handed the reins at Ypres Rally after a mistake by Hyundai team-mate Thierry Neuville on Saturday’s penultimate stage dashed all hope of a repeat victory in front of his home supporters.

Thierry Neuville edged out his Rally1 rivals on this afternoon’s short, sharp Ardeca Ypres Rally shakedown stage by powering through it six tenths of a second quicker than anyone else.

Hyundai  Motorsport’s Ott Tanak has drawn level with some of the World Rally Championship’s most decorated drivers from the last 50 years by claiming a third victory at Secto Rally Finland alongside Martin Jarveoja. 

Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Esapekka Lappi went fastest on this morning’s Rally Estonia shakedown - his best effort a whole second quicker than his closest World Rally Championship rival.

M-Sport Ford’s Craig Breen has promised to leave everything on the stages over the course of the next three rounds as the Irishman vies for his first-ever victory as a World Rally Championship driver.

M-Sport Ford Team Principal Richard Millener says his team will bounce back from the disappointment of witnessing three of their four Puma Rally1 cars being struck down with a variety of issues on the opening day of Safari Rally Kenya.

World Rally Championship leader Kalle Rovanpera maintained his headline grabbing start to the 2022 season by posting the best time through this morning’s picture postcard Safari Rally shakedown stage.

Ott Tanak’s Rally Italia Sardegna success has been labelled “a wonderful reward” for the endeavour of everyone working at Hyundai Motorsport by the squad's Deputy Team Director, Julien Moncet.

Hyundai's Ott Tanak and Martin Järveoja stormed to victory on Rally Italia Sardegna – round five of the FIA World Rally Championship – to end a winless streak that stretched all the way back to the start of last year.

Ott Tanak remains on course to clinch his first World Rally Championship victory in more than a year after ending the penultimate day of Rally Italia Sardegna holding a commanding 46 second lead.

Toyota returnee Esapekka Lappi was prevented from building on his small Rally Italia Sardegna lead as organisers took the decision to cancel the final two Friday stages on safety grounds.

Leading Rally1 drivers have said they are bracing themselves for one of the most physically and mentally demanding weekends they are likely to encounter in this season’s World Rally Championship.

Hyundai Motorsport’s Thierry Neuville will be hoping his Rally Italia Sardegna shakedown victory is an indication of what is to come on round five of the World Rally Championship this weekend.

A peerless drive – and a slice of good fortune – on the penultimate day of Rally de Portugal has provisionally handed top spot to World Rally Championship leader Kalle Rovanpera.

The opening day of Rally de Portugal has ended with Elfyn Evans and Kalle Rovanera making it a provisional one-two for the Toyota Gazoo Racing team.

A measured performance on the final day of Rally Sweden earned Toyota’s Kalle Rovanpera and Jonne Halttunen their third World Rally Championship career victory.

Kalle Rovanpera leads the second round of the World Rally Championship at the overnight halt after successfully capitalising on his favourable road position during the penultimate day of Rally Sweden.

Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville struck right at the death on the opening day of Rally Sweden to claim the overnight lead of an event he last won in 2018.

World Rally Championship leaders Kalle Rovanpera and Jonne Halttunen set the benchmark on today’s Rally Sweden shakedown stage.

M-Sport Ford Team Principal Richard Millener believes new recruit Craig Breen has already shown the mindset required to become a future winner of the World Rally Championship.

Sebastien Ogier quadrupled his Rallye Monte Carlo lead on Saturday’s final stage to put himself firmly in the box seat to make it a record-extending ninth victory on the Monaca-based event tomorrow.  

Click here for the classification after SS12 for Rally Argentina

Click here for full WRC Rally Argentina shakedown results